Monday, May 28, 2007

My favorite type of movies have to be asian independent/foreign films. And I owe it to my dad for getting me so into it. On my Netflix queue, I'd say 30% of my queue is foreign. America is very sensitive and there are just way too many topics that would get the MPAA hot and bothered. Especially Asian horror. That's why there's the foreign section in any movie store - it's for you to get a glimpse of something unfamiliar and untainted. Anyway, as a kid, my dad would take me to the old Garfield Theatre on Valley/Garfield - where Kang Kang Food Court and Crepe In The Grip now exist. But besides watching Asian cinema, which during that time – hailed some bad film making, I was more interested in the snack bar. And it wasn't your typical snack bar. No popcorn, no nachos or Milk Duds. They offered stuff like dried cuttlefish, fruit-flavored and curry-flavored beef jerky, White Rabbit candy, dried prunes in those plastic heart-shaped containers, haw flakes, and canned grass jelly. Oh pure FOB joy. It's not like I couldn't get those at the local Chinese market - it was just special to eat pungent food in a theatre with other people eating pungent food. Just like the fresh smell of canned butter. Mmm.

But things may have been different in theatres if they had offered... Durian Candy! What is durian? It's a spiky fruit that is known for it's sweet yet pungent odor. I didn't like the stuff growing up as my relatives would try to foie gras that sh*t into my body. Garfield Theatre is no longer in commission and I could imagine a conversation with the manager sounding like this, if they had sold this particular stinkbomb candy.

"Yeah, we're shutting down the place in about a few weeks. Ticket sales have been plummeting. I'm sad. Oh, and by the way, you have to try our new durian candy at the concession stand - it's great! I know Chinese love it!"

This weekend I was in Chinatown eating lunch with J and her mom at Mien Nghia. Afterwards we headed to the Wing Hop Fung emporium to find medicine and I stumpled upon this! If I see something that even looks remotely bizarre, I immediately think about about my friend Eddie of Deep End Dining and Steve of Steve Don't Eat It! Hey, have to try all the food I can before I die.

There are some bad girls out there, but the clever, snide ones, put on the innocent look. This candy is no different. She looks like a caramel, but inside is a spiky bomb waiting to detonate. Made with durian powder, malt, sugar and coconut milk this has the light odor of durian. It's encased in wax for easy wrapper removal. *Pop* Ok, hmm... no initial taste. About 5 seconds into it, I started to taste the durian-ness. Then the taste of coconut milk which steadily balanced out the durian powder. Hmm! I like it! For the whole 5 minutes it took to eat the candy, it kept me amused - not like gum which loses it's flavor after about 15 seconds. If you're into bizarre candy - try this too! I like these a lot... Gengkis Khan Caramels!

I totally remember that theater on Garfield. My dad used to work the projector in a Chinese theater on Las Tunas near the hospital, and another one in Chinatown. You totally described the food you'd find over in the consession stand. Don't forget the sweet/spicy/sticky jerky. I love that the most.

And speaking of White Rabbit candy... have you ever given it to a non-Asian person and they try to peel off the edible paper? Classic.

Mmm. I like durian candy and ice cream. I just can't stomach the real stuff.

I remember that theatre. Oh! Maybe you would know which movie, but it starred two guys and a girl love triangle/gangster mafia. I think one guy's family was killed and he joined a gang for revenge and it turned out that his girl's father was the culprit? And they met on the train when he went through the window and accidentally into her room? Argh! I'm so bad at the description but I remembered it was really good and don't know the name to find that movie again. :(

Did the fact that your family shoved the spikey fruit down your throat in your youth make you stumple? I don't know what kind of girls look nice from the outside but are a spikey bomb waiting to explode on the inside....wait, you used to date Britney Spears?

Cp, when i was a kid, i remembered my grandpa (in Macau) busting one of these open for us. my sister and i quickly covered our noses and walked away. he was shocked - thought we were in for a treat haha.

J!, i suppose you can go to Petco and find one of those garden snakes, but you'd need lik 5 of those to get enough to fill a shot glass with chinese rice wine. check my TAIWAN link on the TRAVEL section, you can see photos of it. it's whatevers - just a thrill.

Jinius, it's not too late to live the FOB dream. Just move to a place off Valley Blvd - you'll know every delicious joint there in no time haha. You might even buy one of those face visors for driving.

oh don't forget about those mini fruit jelly things that come in a little plastic container. peel plastic lid and squeeze AND suck the jelly out into your mouth. but just don't squeeze AND suck too hard....goes down too fast and you gag your esophogas right out! those come in durian flavors too.

I was thinking the same thing the other day while surfing through Yelp.com. Asians have a strong presence online that goes largely unnoticed. I buy every bit of your explanation.

Now can you explain why Indians and African-Americans are tagged as awful tippers when it comes to dining out or why Asians (older generation) think that a 2-dollar tip is more than enough when dining out at Asian establishments no matter how large the bill is?

I just stumbled upon your website and its making for very good reading while at work. I was laughing silently at my comp screen reading the outline of the family: dad watching TV, mom with engrish apron, etc ... those are good memories that I'm sure all asian kids will look fondly upon and will miss when they are not able to do it anymore

you liked it? EWWWW. it would always stink up the house when my mom would eat it. i had fried durian the other day at a japanese fusion restaurant... they didn't tell me it was durian, since frying it took away the pungent smell.. but once you took a bite, it just tasted odd.mr

my youth pastor is bringing some of this candy to church this week and is promising 50 bucks to whoever can eat the whole piece. never had it before and from the sounds of it i may want to take a barf bag in reserve.